“It’s Not Brain Surgery” is the AANS podcast series covering topics related to leadership, practice management and working as a neurosurgeon. Tune in each month to hear professional and career advice from neurosurgical leaders. A new podcast episode will be released weekly and will be available for CME. 

Season 2 of “It’s Not Brain Surgery” is hosted by Paul Camarata, MD, FAANS. Dr. Camarata is a professor and chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, and clinical service chief at the University of Kansas Health System. Hailing from southern California and the plains of western Kansas, Dr. Camarata completed an undergraduate degree in Italian language and biology with honors at Stanford University and Stanford-in-Italy. He obtained his MD at the University of Kansas Medical School in 1986. While in college, he was a radio and television broadcaster at school, and professionally in his hometown in western Kansas. He brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into his podcast interviews.

Episodes 1-5
Practice Management Concepts: What Are They and Why You Should Care
Featured Speakers:

• The Successful Private Practitioner featuring Jean-Pierre Mobasser, MD, FAANS
• Going into Private Practice and Negotiating a Contract featuring John A. Lewis
• A Privademic Model: One Surgeon’s Perspective featuring Ciara Harraher, MD, FAANS
• Unraveling the Preauthorization Knot featuring Jeremy Phelps, MD, FAANS
• Denial of Payment after Successful Prior Authorization: The Latest Commercial Payer Ruse featuring Luis Tumialan, MD, FAANS

Episodes 6-8
Inpatient or Outpatient: ASCs
Featured Speakers:

• Ambulatory Surgical Centers Overview (What are they, What is their role in neurosurgery) featuring Richard N. Wohns, MD, JD, MBA, FAANS
• Ambulatory Surgical Centers: Best Practices for Neurosurgeons featuring Richard N. Wohns, MD, JD, MBA, FAANS
• Moving to Outpatient Care: Spine Techniques featuring Bryan Barnes, MD, FAANS

Episodes 9-11
Practice Management Fundamentals: It’s Not Just CPT Codes
Featured Speakers:

• What are Co-Management Agreements and Why Should You Care featuring Dan Hoit, MD, FAANS and John A. Lewis, MD
• What is Venture Capital and Private Equity in Neurosurgery and Why You Should Care featuring Jack Knightly, MD, FAANS
• What is Revenue Cycle Management and Why Should You Care featuring Jack Knightly, MD, FAANS

Episodes 12-14
Teaching and Learning
Featured Speakers:

• In the Operating Room featuring Mustafa Baskaya, MD, FAANS
• Neuroanatomy featuring Maria Peris-Celda, MD, PhD, FAANS
• In the Lab featuring Chetan Bettegowda, MD, FAANS

Episodes 15-18
Communication Tips (Leadership)
Featured Speakers:

• Breaking Bad News Tips and Guide featuring Sean Lew, MD, FAANS
• Healthcare Finance Basics: How to Speak the Language of Administrators featuring Cheerag D. Upadhyaya, MD, MBA, MSc, FACS, FAANS
• Communication Tips: Managing People featuring Robert Friedlander, MD, FAANS
• Communication Tips: Giving and Receiving Feedback featuring Stacey Wolfe, MD, FAANS

Episodes 19-23
JNS – Leaders in Neurosurgery
Featured Speakers:

• Andres M. Lozano, MD, PhD, FRCSC
• Zoher Ghogawala, MD, FAANS
• Professor Hugues Duffau, MD, PhD
• Christopher S. Graffeo, MD
• Faith C. Robertson, MD

Episodes 24-26

Personal Finances
Featured Speakers

• You Have a Salary, Now What? featuring Jake Weatherford featuring Jake Weatherford
• Managing Student Loan Debt featuring Kristen Buchman
• Finances of Starting a New Practice featuring E. Hunter Dyer, MD, FAANS

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Discuss the unique role of neurosurgeons as providers and leaders driving change in the healthcare system
• Articulate the latest business and leadership updates in neurosurgery
• Apply practical leadership principles and practice management concepts